Mars approximate distance from the sun

Mars orbits the Sun at an average distance of about 228 million kilometers, or 142 million miles. This is its orbital semimajor axis, a useful approximation for comparing the scale of the solar system.

How it works

Mars follows an elliptical orbit, so its distance changes over the course of a Martian year. At closest approach it is roughly 207 million kilometers from the Sun; at the farthest point it is roughly 249 million kilometers.

Example or application

The average distance is about 1.52 astronomical units, where one astronomical unit is the average Earth–Sun distance. This lets astronomers compare planetary orbits with a shared unit.

Scope and limits

The exact distance on a particular date varies. “Distance from the Sun” should specify whether it means a current value, closest approach, or average orbital distance.

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